DTE Energy will reduce methane emissions by 80 percent
As part of an initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, DTE Energy will reduce methane emissions from its natural gas utility operations by more than 80 percent by 2040.
DTE will reduce methane emissions by replacing more steel and cast iron pipelines with new materials, such as polyethylene tubing for main and service lines and epoxy coated high-strength steel for transmission lines. The Environmental Protection Agency says methane accounts for about 10 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions.
“Since 2011 DTE’s improvements in our natural gas distribution system have resulted in a 16 percent reduction in methane emissions,” Mark Stiers, president and chief operating officer at DTE Gas, said. “Our continued commitment to gas main replacement and proactive compressor station maintenance will allow us to reduce methane emissions by more than 80 percent in the next 20 years.”
DTE, which serves more than 1.3 million residential and business customers in Michigan, is moving to retire all of its coal-fired plants by 2040 to cut carbon emissions by 80 percent. The company is also increasing its use of natural gas, which is a clean source of energy.
Further, DTE will double its renewable energy capacity from 1,000 megawatts to 2,000 megawatts by 2022. Also, the company will begin operating the Pine River and Polaris wind parks. Also, DTE will open a natural gas-fueled plant in East China Township, Michigan, in 2022.
“DTE has demonstrated that methane emissions can be reduced while at the same time allowing natural gas to play an integral role in the company’s energy portfolio while transitioning to a reduced carbon emission infrastructure,” Stiers said. “A balanced mix of energy sources, such as wind, solar and natural gas, is an important part of DTE’s strategy to deliver safe, secure, reliable, affordable and cleaner power to our customers and all Michigan consumers.”
